Neuroendocrine control of the gut during stress: corticotropin-releasing factor signaling pathways in the spotlight.
Stress affects the gastrointestinal tract as part of the visceral response. Various stressors induce similar profiles of gut motor function alterations, including inhibition of gastric emptying, stimulation of colonic propulsive motility, and hypersensitivity to colorectal distension. In recent years, substantial progress has been made in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of stress's impact on gut function. Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling pathways mediates both the inhibition of upper gastrointestinal (GI) and the stimulation of lower GI motor function through interaction with different CRF receptor subtypes. Here, we review how various stressors affect the gut, with special emphasis on the central and peripheral CRF signaling systems.
Stengel
Andreas
A
Department of Medicine and CURE Digestive Diseases Research Center, Center for Neurobiology of Stress, University of California at Los Angeles, and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California 90073, USA.
Taché
Yvette
Y
D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*
D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone